It's been my goal to start my own software company basically since I started programming HyperCard on System 6 back in elementary school. Recent changes in my job situation have convinced me that I should be pursuing this goal more actively. My question is, what are some pitfalls that I should avoid when starting a software company? A lot of companies fail and I'm sure there are a lot of reasons. As a side-request, it would be particularly helpful if you could tell me a little about your own experience with starting a software company or being a part of a startup, so I know how you know what you know.